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š¬ Think about it
Have you heard of elephants walking into farms and villages? They do not do it for fun. When their forest home dries up, they have nowhere else to go. One small change in the forest pushes them out. Let us see how everything in nature is connected.
Why do elephants enter farms and villages?
- In states like Odisha and Assam, this happens often.
- When food and water are scarce in the forest, elephants wander out.
- They come for crops like bananas and sugarcane.
- So this can damage crops and even harm people.
How does losing forest cover cause this problem?
- Changes in rainfall and temperature affect plants.
- Cutting trees for roads and buildings makes it worse.
- So forests dry and shrink, the natural home of animals.
- That is why animals move into human areas.
How One Change Pushes Elephants Out
Less rain and tree cutting
↓
Forests shrink
Drying forests lose food and water.
↓
Habitat lost
Animals have no home left.
↓
Elephants enter farms and villages
How do wildlife corridors help animals?
- Ecologists have marked corridors across the country.
- These corridors connect forest patches together.
- So animals like elephants can travel safely between forests.
- That is why they avoid clashing with villages.
Example:
An elephant corridor is like a footbridge that lets people cross a busy road without stepping into traffic.
In this Activity, we will explore two nearby habitats and list the living and non-living things we find in each.
Materials needed
Notebook, pen, and Table 12.1 to record observations.
Procedure
1. Explore the habitat in groups with your teacher.
2. Identify two habitats in your surroundings.
3. These could be a pond, a forest, a farm, or even a large tree like banyan, mango, or pilkhan (white fig).
4. List the living beings and non-living things you observe.
5. Record your observations in Table 12.1.
2. Identify two habitats in your surroundings.
3. These could be a pond, a forest, a farm, or even a large tree like banyan, mango, or pilkhan (white fig).
4. List the living beings and non-living things you observe.
5. Record your observations in Table 12.1.
Table 12.1 — Different components of two habitats
| Pond — Living beings | Pond — Non-living things | Forest — Living beings | Forest — Non-living things |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish | Water | Grass | Soil |
| Frog | Air | Trees | Air |
| Lotus | Sunlight | Birds | Sunlight |
| Duck | Mud | Deer | Rocks |
Observation
Both habitats have living beings and non-living things. But the types of living beings and non-living things are different.
Explanation
Living beings are the biotic components. Non-living things are the abiotic components. Different habitats offer different living conditions.
ā Summary
- Two habitats explored
- Living = biotic
- Non-living = abiotic
- Conditions differ
Important Points
- A habitat is simply a place where an organism lives.
- It could even be just the bark of a tree.
- Nature's elements are closely connected to one another.
ā Test Yourself
-
What is a habitat?
View Answer
A habitat is a place where an organism lives, such as a pond, forest, or even a tree. -
Why do elephants come into villages?
View Answer
When food and water run short in their drying forest, they wander out to find crops. -
What are wildlife corridors?
View Answer
Marked paths that connect forests so animals can travel safely without entering villages. -
Name one living and one non-living part of a pond.
View Answer
Living: fish. Non-living: water. -
What makes forests shrink?
View Answer
Changes in rainfall and temperature, plus cutting trees for roads and buildings.
Important Definitions
- Habitat — a place that gives an organism the right conditions to live and grow.
- Wildlife corridor — a marked path that connects forests for safe animal movement.
